100,000,000 euros for sequencing 100,000 genomes

In the UK, the genome of one hundred thousand seriously ill people will be deciphered

Copper newsA large-scale genome sequencing project has been launched in the UK for 100,000 patients diagnosed with cancer or one of the rare diseases.

This is stated in a message published on the official website of the administration of British Prime Minister David Cameron (DNA tests to revolutionize fight against cancer and help 100,000 NHS patients).

It is planned that the project to sequence the genome of 100,000 patients will last from three to five years; the government has allocated 100 million euros (about $ 160 million) to the National Health Service of Great Britain (NHS) for its implementation. According to Cameron, participation in the project can help volunteers in the treatment of their diseases, and scientists will be able to discover new approaches to the treatment of cancer and rare diseases.

Projects aimed at genome-wide sequencing exist in other countries as well. So, in February, Norway announced plans to decode the genome of tumors of 1,000 cancer patients. A similar number of patients are participating in a study that is being conducted in New York and is dedicated to Alzheimer's disease.

Despite the fact that the cost of genome sequencing is constantly decreasing and has already reached 5-10 thousand euros, carrying out large-scale projects is still an expensive undertaking.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru12.12.2012